New Safety Code to Replace Factories Act, Says Official
J Shiva Shankar Reddy, Joint Chief Inspector of Factories, said the factory sector was at a crucial juncture with the proposed implementation of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, set to replace the decades-old Factories Act.
Speaking at a one-day conference on Industrial Safety and Environmental Protection in High-Risk Factories on Friday, organised by the Andhra Pradesh unit of the Confederation of Indian Industry, Mr. Reddy said the new code widens the scope for appointing Safety Officers and strengthens accountability for safety lapses, extending responsibility beyond factory owners.
The conference focused on safety practices and sustainability in chemical, pharmaceutical, and other high-risk industries.
Mr. Reddy said industrial accidents often result from minor deviations from standard operating procedures, such as unsafe material handling, poor earthing, improper equipment use, and failure to follow permit or emergency systems. Referring to past chemical fires and gas exposure incidents, he said weak safety practices, rather than a lack of regulations, remain the main cause.
He stressed the need for regular training, strong process safety systems, layered protection for high-risk activities, and improved emergency preparedness.
DVS Narayana Raju, Chairman, CII Visakhapatnam, said industrial safety should be a strategic priority, particularly in the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. He pointed to challenges such as hazardous processes, evolving regulations, human error, ageing equipment, and gaps in standard operating procedures.
P. P. Lal Krishna, Managing Director of Visakha Pharmacity Ltd., and KVV Raju, CEO of Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services, also spoke.